MaaS: passed peak-hype, or morphing into something new?

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) products were touted as transforming how we pay for travel but the first UK trial flopped. So has the idea been oversold? The Urban Transport Group thinks that, while subscription models may struggle, a new MaaS business model is emerging.

Andrew Forster

13 September 2019

The private sector sees opportunities to profit from building ‘walled garden’ MaaS platforms, says the UTG

When Mobility as a Service first emerged in the public consciousness it was generally explained as an app-based subscription package of mobility. People would buy monthly access to a range of travel options, such as public transport, taxis, bike hire, and car hire. This, some predicted, would fundamentally change travel habits and behaviours, providing an attractive alternative to car ownership for many.

The first application in the UK, however, proved a flop. Finnish firm MaaS...